US2650831A - Record changing mechanism for phonographs - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1953 H. J. FORTUNE ET AL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 28, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 z/wq W Sept. 1, 1953 H. J. FORTUNE ETAL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1947 Sept. 1, 1953 H. J. FORTUNE ET AL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 28, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 QNW P 1953 H. J. FORTUNE ET AL 2,650,831

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 28, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept 1, 1953 Filed Aug. 28. 1947 H. J. FORTUNE ET AL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 S p 1, 1953 H. J. FORTUNE ET AL 2,650,831

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 28, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Application August 28, 1947, Serial No. 771,000 In Great Britain June 2'7, 1947 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to record changing mechanism for phonographs of the kind in which the stack of records is supported at the centre by a spindle having an oiiset portion providing a supporting shoulder and at the circumference by a platform having means for displacing the lowest record so that it is fed on to the turntable. The invention further relates to record changing mechanism as specified above wherein a rotary control cam device is provided for controlling the raising of the pick-up, swinging it clear of the record, releasing a new record, returning the pick-up to the playing position and lowering it on to the new record, such device having an interrupted gear wheel, the gap of which faces a driving pinion during the playing of a record and which device is given an initial movement to mesh the gears when the pick-up enters the run-out groove of the record.

Modern records are provided with a run-out groove which is concentric with the centre of the record and at a standard radius therefrom. Earlier records on the other hand are provided with a run-out groove which is eccentric to the centre of the record.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved means whereby the rotary control device will be commenced irrespective of the type of run-out groove on the record being played.

Another object is to provide manually opera'ble means whereby a record may be rejected, i. e. the control device may be brought into action at any time during the playing of such record.

A further object is to provide manually operable starting means for causing the control device to function for the playing of single records which are placed direct upon the turntable.

The invention consists in record changing mechanism of the type set forth wherein a pivoted impulse lever is provided for initiating the cycle of rotation of the control device by contacting with a projection or pin on said device, the lever being held in a cooked position by a trip lever adapted to be moved to a release position by a pick-up lever which moves in accordance with the movements of the pick-up arm, the trip lever having a toothed or ratchet surface adapted to be engaged by a stop pawl or a roller carried by the pick-up lever.

The arrangement is such that when the record being played is provided with an eccentric runout groove, the pawl engages the toothed or ratchet surface and pivots the trip lever, while when the record is provided with a concentric groove pivoting of the trip lever is effected by engagement of the roller with the toothed surface.

The pawl may comprise a pivotally mounted lightly sprung member.

The roller may be adjustable to conform to the radius of the run-out groove.

The resetting of the impulse lever may be effected by the engagement of the projection or pin on the control device with a cam surface on the impulse lever.

The trip lever may be provided with a projection or tooth adapted for engagement by a pivoted reject lever actuated by a manually operable lever whereby the trip lever may be pivoted to release position for rejecting a record.

The rotary control device may be provided with a pair of cam elements adapted to actuate a swing-lever for swinging the pick-up arm, one cam controlling the normal movements when there is still one or more records in the stack, while the other causes the arm to swing to a rest position and the opening of a motor switch when the last record has been delivered from the stack, means being provided for locking the swing-lever in its outermost or rest position.

According to a further feature of the invention a friction lever manually operable by a starting lever may be provided for releasing the swinglever-lock and at the same time release the trip lever and switch on the motor.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of the record changing mechanism and the associated parts.

Figure 2 is an elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan of the rotary control device, reject mechanism, impulse lever means and the alternative automatic trip release for the impulse lever.

Figure 3a is a detail view of a pivoted pawl device on the pick-up lever.

Figure 4 is a plan of the hand start and stop mechanism.

Figure 5 is a plan of the knock-oif mechanism.

Figure 6 is a part elevation of the knock-01f mechanism.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the platform and record feeding means in the position for 10" records.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the platform and record feeding means in the position for 12" records.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the pick-up arm lifting means.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the driving spindle and control device assembly.

Figure 11 is a plan of the selector mechanism.

In carrying the invention into effect, the turntable I is driven from a constant speed motor 2, through the motor pulley 3, intermediate wheel 4 and drum 5 which is secured. to the turntable.

The turntable l is mounted upon the hollow spindle 6 to which a spur pinion I is secured. The spindle 6 rotates in a bearing member or bracket 8 which is secured to the motor board 8. The pinion I is adapted to drive. a control cam.

device 19 which is rotatably mounted upon astub shaft l l depending from the bearing bracket 8. The drive from the pinion. T is eifected' intermittently by a spur gear wheel. l2. which is provided with an interruption or gap l3. During the playing of a record the interruption I3 is located opposite the pinion I so* that no drive takes place.

The control device is provided with cam means which cause the lifting of the pick-up arm, swinging of the arm clear of. the record, release of a new record, return of. the. pick-up arm to the starting position and lowering of the. stylus on to the record.

The rotary cycle of the control device it? normally commences at the end. of the playing. of a record under the control of the pick-up arm when the stylus moves into. the run-out groove on the record. In order to. mesh the pinion i.

with the gear i2 the control device I3 has an impulse imparted. thereto by a. pivoted impulse lever 54 (see Figure 3) the arm :5 of which under the action. of the spring I6 strikes a pin i! carried by the control device. The impulse lever i4 is provided with a second arm it the end of which engages a detent or shoulder IS on a pivoted trip lever 20. The trip lever 29 is provided with aspring 2! for holding the detent G9 in engagement with the arm I8.

Movement of the trip lever 20 to the release position is effected by a pick-up lever 22 which moves in accordance with the movements of the pick-up arm 23.

In order to avoid. jarring of the teeth when the drive commences the leading teeth of the spur wheel. 52 are formed on a plate I211 which is pivotally mounted on the control element Hi. and resiliently pressedto the meshing position. So. that the mechanism may deal with. records having a run-out groove concentric with the centre of the record. and having a specified radius as well as records having an eccentric runout groove, the pick-up lever 22 isprovided with alternative tripping means for moving the trip lever 20. The trip lever. 20 is provided with. an arm 24 havinga serrated or toothed surface 25, which when the trip lever is in the cocked position lies in the path of the tripping means.

The tripping means for eccentric run-out groove records comprises a pawl 26 pivotally mounted on the pin 2'! on the pick-up lever and lightly sprung by a spring 28.

When the stylus moves into the eccentric groove the pawl 26 engages the toothed surface and on the backward movement or oscillation of the pick-up lever, due to the eccentricity, the trip lever 28 will be moved to release the impulse lever i4 and thus strike the pin H and initiate the movement of the control device 10..

For concentric run-out groove records, the pick-up lever 26 is provided with a roller 29 mounted on a pivoted arm 32. The roller 29 is adapted to engage the arm 24 and thus pivot the. trip lever 26. to its release. position. The. roller 29 may be adjusted to suit the radius of the run- '4 out groove by the pin and slot clamping means 36a for the arm 30.

At any time during the playing of a record, the control device may be manually brought into operation. For this purpose a pivoted start and stop lever 3| is provided which also functions for rejecting a record, 1. e. stopping the playing of a record.

This lever 3| is coupled to a link 32 having a bifurcated arm. 33" into which the arm 34 of a pivoted reject lever engages. The other arm 35 of. the reject. lever. is adapted to engage a projection or-tooth 36' on the trip lever 20.

When; it: is.- desired to "reject a record, the start and stop lever 3| is moved to the reject position and released. This causes the link to be drawn to the. left as seen in the drawings, pivoting the reject lever 34, 35 clockwise and thus moving the trip lever 20 to its release position, thus commencing the cycle of the control device l0.

The link 32 is. operatively connected to a pivotally mounted switch arm 31' which carries circuit. closing element 38. (see Figure 4) adapted to make. or break. the motor circuit at the contacts 39. The link- 3.21 i'sprovided with a slot 40 engaging a pin 4| on. the switch arm 31. When the circuit is made, the switch arm is retained in its position by a pivotally mounted trigger 42. The trigger is provided with an arm 43 the end of which is bent over. to engagein the slot 44 in the link. Aspring 45'is connected to the arm 43 and to. the link 32 tending to' return the trigger to the switch arm retaining position. A spring 53 is provided between the trigger 42 and the switch arm and operates when the trigger is released to pull the element 38 out of contact with the contacts 39.

When the start and stop lever 3| is turned counterclockwise the link 32' is pushed to the right causing the trigger to release the switch arm and open the circuit. When the lever 34 is turned clockwise to start, it pulls on the link 32- inserting the circuit closing element between the contacts 39 and moving the toe 46 of the switch arm into engagement with the detent or shoulder 4'! of the trigger.

The slots 44' and 40 providelost motion between the trigger-arm 43 and the pin 4| respectively.

The control device 1'0 (see Figure 3) is provided on its upper surface with a pair of cams 5!, 52 adapted to control the swinging movements of the pick-up arm 23.

The cam 5| controls'the-movements when there is'still at least one record left in the stack, while the cam 52 controls the swing out of the arm when thelast recordhasbeen delivered on to the turntable and played".

The cams are adapted to" be engaged by a follower or pin' 5'3'on a pivot'swi'ng lever 54. During the playing of the record the follower 53 is in engagement with the low concentric part 54a of the cam 5|; the rising part- 5) causes the swingout of the pick-up arm; the high concentric part 5 lc'maintains the pick-up" arm in' the outer positionwhile another record'isbeing delivered on to the turntable; the; descending part 51d controls theswing-irr oil the pick-up'arm.

The swing-out of the pick-up arm is caused by engagement of a pin 55. onthe'swing lever 54 with .the surface 56 on.the. pick-up lever 22. When the last-record. has been played. and the cam 53 swings out. the, pick-up. arm,. the swing-out lever 54is preventedlfromreturning by means'hereinafter describedwith the resultthat the follower 53 becomes engaged by the cam 52. At the commencement of the cam 52 there is a high part 52a which provides an extra swing to the lever 54 so that the follower 55 moves along the surface 56 of the pick-up lever 22. This extra swing brings the swing lever 54 into engagement with the end 58 of a link 59 (see Figure 5) which is coupled to the trigger 42 whereby the switch lever 37 is released and the motor cut out. Continued movement of the control device I brings the concentric part of the cam 52 into engagement with the follower 53.

The stack of records is supported by a fixed spindle 60 having an offset part GI and shoulder 92, and by a platform unit 63 (see Figures '7 and 8). The platform has a fixed part 64 for supporting 12 records and a displaceable part 65 for 10" records. The displaceable part 65 is pivotally mounted on the housing 66 of the platform unit and is provided with a slotted arm 61 in which a pin 66 carried by a pivoted lever 69 can slide. When the lever 69 is in the position of Figure '7 the pin 68 supports the platform part 65 in its opertaive position. When the lever 69 is pivoted counterclockwise it pivots the platform part 65 downwardly so that the platform 64 is available.

Each platform 64, 65 is provided with a record feeding finger 10, H respectively. These fingers are linked together and to a pivoted operating lever I72.

Pivotally mounted on the housing 66 is a record clip or steadying arm I2 which is provided with a short arm 73. A spring I4 is provided for holding down the clip on to the stack of records.

The arm I3 is adapted to co-operate with a pivoted knock-out lever I (see Figures 5 and 6) which has a detent or shoulder I6 adapted to engage the swing lever 54 when the last record from the stack has been delivered. The cam 5| has a rise 5 I e which gives the extra swing to the swingout lever 54 so that it will pass beyond the detent 75. When there is still a record in position on the platform and the clip I2 is resting thereon the detent I6 lies below the plane of the swing lever 5Q. When, however, the last record has been delivered, the clip I2 is lowered so that the arm i3 engages the heel I! of the knock-out lever I5 and raises the detent end into the path of the swing lever 54', so that said lever will be engaged thereby until the cam 52 engages the follower 53.

The knock-out lever 15 has a surface I8 which is engaged by the arm 73 when the clip I2 is raised to insert a fresh stack of records. Engagement of this surface I8 ensures the lowering of the detent end of the knock-out lever to release the detent I6 from the swing lever when the new stack is in position.

The feeding fingers I9, (I are actuated by a link 19 (see Figure 1) connected to the lever II2 to a crank pin 89 (Figure on the control device it. The connection to the crank pin 89 is by a slot affording a lost-motion so that the fingers are only actuated during a part of the crank pin stroke.

The displacing movements of the 10 platform 85 are effected by a manuall operated change over lever Ill (see Figure 11) which has a slot 82 engaging the arm 83 of the lever 69. The change over lever 8I is connected by a link 84 to a pivoted selector lever 85 a pin 86 on which is adapted to engage one or other of a pair of surfaces 81, 88 on a pick-up selector arm 89 which is pivotally mounted on the pick-up lever 22. A spring 99 between the pick-up selector arm 89 and the pickup lever causes the pick-up arm to be moved to the appropriate playing position which is reached when the eccentric adjustable stop 9| on pick-up lever 22 engages the pick-up selector arm 89. The pick-up arm is retained in this position by friction means referred to hereinafter.

On its lower surface the control device is provided with a cam 92 (see Figure 9) which causes the raising and lowering of the pick-up arm and stylus from the record. This cam is engaged by a follower 93 on a lever 94 which is connected to a link 95 which in turn is coupled by an eccentrio adjusting device to a lifting lever 96 the arm 9'! of which seats beneath a lifting disc 98. The lifting disc 98 is located beneath a lifting plate 99 secured to the lower end of a lifting spindle I00, the upper end of which engages a surface on the pick-up arm bracket I92 which is pivoted at I03. A friction washer is provided between the lifting disc 98 and plate 99 for holding the pickup arm in its selected position but such washer is spaced from the plate 99 when the pick-up arm and stylus is lowered on to the record. A spring IIlI between the link 95 and arm 97 ensures this separation. Rotation of the plate 99 in relation to the pick-up assembly is prevented by the forked end 99a engaging a pin I94 on the pickup lever 22 which is secured to the hollow spindle Hi5 upon which the pick-up arm 23 is mounted.

When the stack of records is exhausted and the last record has been played the knock-out lever I5 comes into operation through the lowerihg of the record clip so that the swing-out lever 54 is actuated by the cam 52 to maintain the pick-up arm 23 in the out position. Under these conditions the pickup arm is lowered on the rest I06 and the motor cut out.

After the current is switched off the control element will rotate to the playing position, i. e. with the gap I3 opposite the pinion I under the momentum of the turntable. The turntable will come to rest of its own accord.

When it is desired to commence playing, a new stack having been mounted in position, the clip [2, now resting on the top record so that the detent it on the knock-off lever releases the swing-out lever 54. It is now only necessary to move the start and stop lever (ii to the start position causing the motor to start and moving the trip lever 29 to release the impulse lever I i.

Should it be desired to replay a record that is still on the turntable after the knock-out lever '15 has functioned, the start and stop lever BI is moved to the start position; this moves the arm I97 of a lever I88 (see Figure 1) carried by the lever SI into engagement with a pivoted lever I89 and moves the latter along an inclined surface lid on the knock-out lever '55 pivoting the latter and so releasing the detent I6 from the swing-out lever 54. The follower 23 of the swing-out lever 54 is now under control of the cam 52. Similar action takes place when there are no records on the platform and it is desired to play single records which are placed directly upon the turntable.

The lever I99 is friction controlled and thus it remains in position to hold the knock-out lever 15 in release position until the control device has swung the swing-out lever 54 over the detent iii. The friction lever I99 is then returned to move it from the surface I if? by a pin i I I on the swingout lever 54 engaging the surface I I2 of the friction lever.

The lever I95 is capable of movement relative to the start and stop lever 3! under the control of the spring H4, such spring being only 7 necessary to prevent undue: strain. on the mechanism should the lever 3|v be held in the start position during the time that the resetting pin lil is passing over the face H2 of the friction lever I69;

There is a gap between the cams and 52 which is bridged by a leaf spring H3 (see Figure 33) secured to the cam 52 when the follower 5-3 is under the influence of the cam 52, i. e. during normal playing the spring H3 will lift to allow the follower to pass from the portion 5!?) to the portion 5lc of. the cam 5|.

In operation assuming that the knock-out means have operated the pick-up arm 23 is located on the; rest I06 and the follower 53 is on the cam 52, and a fresh stacklof records having been placed on the platform 65 and spindle 68 (assuming the records to be the clip '12 will contact with the top record and consequently the knock-out detent '56 will be moved down to release the swing-out arm 5 which, however, does not move owing to the position of the follower 53. The lever 31 is now moved to the start position. This action moves the circuit closer 38 into engagement with the contacts 39 energising the motor. At the same time the trip lever 34, 35 releases the trip 28 allowing the impulse lever I-i' to function and start the rotation of the control device it and bring ing the spur gear i2 into mesh with the pinion l. The rotation of the control device causes the pick-up arm 23 to be raised through the cam 82; the feeding of the bottom record on to the turntable; by the crank pin 5 3, link it and lever 172; the swinging in of the pick-up arm 23 under control of the swing-out lever and cam.5i; and the lowering of the arm and stylus on to the record, the control element coming to rest with thefollower 53 in engagement with the cam surface 5la.

At the end of playing of the record, the pickup lever 22 through the pawl 25 or roller 29, according to the type of run-out groove, actuates the trip 25 to release the impulse lever i i, the nose liia of which under the influence of spring iii, engages the pin I I and imparts the initial movement to the control element It and start the cycle of such element. While there is still at least one record on the platform, the swingout lever 55 remains under control of the cam 5 l.

Near the end of the cycle of movement of the control element l8 the pin I? engages the cam surface [51) of arm l5 of the impulse lever, pivoting such lever to bring the end lSa of arm l8 nto. position for engagement by detent l9 on trip lever thus resetting the impulse lever.

After the last record. has been delivered the knock-out lever 75 is raised by the lowering of the record clip l2 bringing the detent it into position for engagement by the swing-out lever 5 3. When the last record has been played, the control element lfl again functions to raise the pick-up arm 23 by the cam 92; swing out the pick-up arm by the cam 5| and swing-out lever 55 which by the cam portion 5le causes the lever 5d to become engaged by the detent IE5 and held so that the follower 53 will ride on to cam 52, the portion 52a of which causes the swing-out lever 54 by the link 53 to release the switch lever 31 and switch off the motor. The pick-up arm is lowered on to the rest I56 It will be appreciated that after the knockout means has functioned through there being no records on the platform and the motor is switched off, the phonograph may be used for playing single records which are-placed directly on the turntable (or for replaying' a record: already in position on the turntable) through" the start and stop lever 31 actuating the friction lever I09 to release the swing-out lever 54. from the detent 16. The friction lever 109 willbe reset by the pin [H on the swing-out lever 54 so that the knock-out lever 15 will again func tion at the end of the playing or replaying of such record.

The movement of the start and stop lever 3| at any time to the reject position will bring the control device It into operation and thus cut out the playing of the record-on the turntable.

We claim:

1. In record changing mechanism of the type including a rotatable control device rotatable by the turntable drive mechanism and operatively' disengaged from such mechanism during playing of a record, an impulse lever operatively associated with the device and operable to impart an initial rotation to the latter to drivingly connect the device to such mechanism, a pick-up arm, a pick-up lever connected to the pick-up arm for conjoint movement therewith, and means operable by the control device, when the latter rotates, to lift the pick-up arm, swing the latter to its off position, effect delivery of a new record to the turntable, and engage the pick-up arm with the groove of the new record, a latching and releasing arrangement for the impulse lever comprising, in combination, a trip lever having a first arm with a latch engageable with said impulse lever and a second arm directly engageable by said pick-up lever when the latter is swung inwardly as the pick-up arm moves into the record run-out groove, and a spring biasing said trip lever to a position engaging the latch with the impulse lever to maintain the latter in retracted position and with said second arm in the path of movement of the pick-up lever, whereby,

when the pick-up lever is swung inwardly as the pick-up arm travels the run-out groove, the pickup lever will engage said second arm of the trip lever to swing the trip lever against the biasing action of the spring to release the latch from the impulse lever, a movably mounted reject lever having a movable end, said trip lever first arm having a projection engageable by said movable end whereby said reject lever may be moved to engage said projection to swing said trip lever to release said impulse lever to initiate rotation of said control device, a spring biased pivoted operator for the turntable driving motor control switch, a movable start and stop lever, a link pivotally connected to said start" and stop lever and having a lost motion connection to said operator, said link having a bifurcation, said reject lever being pivoted intermediate its ends and having its other end engaged in said bifurcation, a pivoted trigger having an end engaged in a lost motion connection with said link and a latch surface, and a spring biasing said tirgger to aposition engaging said latch surface with said operator in the switch closing position.

2. In record changing mechanism of the type including a rotatable control device rotatable by the turntable drive mechanism and operatively disengaged from such mechanism. during playing of a record, a spring biased. impulse lever operatively associated with the device and displaceable under action of said spring to impart an initial rotation to the latter, to drivingly connect 9 the device to such mechanism, a pick-up arm, a pick-up lever connected to the pick-up arm for conjoint movement therewith, and means operable by the control device, when the latter rotates, to lift the pick-up arm, swing the latter to its ofi position, efiect delivery of a new record to the turntable, and engage the pick-up arm with the groove of the new record, a latching and releasing arrangement for the impulse lever comprising, in combination, a trip lever having a first arm with a latch engageable with said impulse lever for restraining the latter in retracted position against displacement under the biasing action of its spring, and a second arm directly engageable and displaceable by said pick-up lever when the latter is swung inwardly as the pick-up arm moves into the record run-out groove, and a spring biasing said trip lever to a position engaging the latch with the impulse lever to maintain the latter in retracted position and with said second arm in the path of movement of the pickup lever, whereby, when the pick-up lever is swung inwardly as the pick-up arm travels the run-out groove, the pick-up lever will engage and displace said second arm of the trip lever to swing the trip lever against the biasing action of its spring to release the latch from the impulse lever, a movably mounted reject lever having a movable end, said trip lever first arm having a projection engageable by said movable end whereby impulse lever to initiate rotation of said control device, a spring biased pivoted operator for the turntable driving motor control switch, a movable start and stop lever, a link pivotally connected to said start and stop lever and having a lost motion connection to said operator, said link having a bifurcation, said reject lever being pivoted intermediate its ends and having its other end engaged in said bifurcation, a pivoted trigger having an end engaged in a 10st motion connection with said link and a latch surface, and a spring biasing said trigger to a position engaging said latch surface with said operator in the switch closing position.

HENRY JAMES FORTUNE. EDMUND WALTER MORTIMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,938,810 Collison et al. Dec. 12, 1933 2,295,092 Oifen Sept. 8, 1942 2,323,472 Johnson et al. July 6, 1943 2,378,086 Johnson June 12, 1945 2,412,441 Carson et al. Dec. 10, 1946 2,435,264 Ansar Feb. 3, 1948 2,490,678 Dale Dec, 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 459,155 Great Britain Jan. 4, 1937

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